Overview

The part Gelbe Scharte - the lowest col between Rote Flüh and Schartschrofen – and Rote Flüh is a mountain trail with some rock scramble, partly secured with fixed iron ropes and with a nice 20 m high, near perpendicular rock face, where iron cramps help you up or down. The trail runs on the north or south side of the ridge and on the ridge crest too, so that you can have multiple views and impressions of this beautiful area. This part is called sometimes “Friedensweg”.

The part from Gelbe Scharte up to near Schartschrofen is a short but steep and enjoyable Via Ferrata, not very difficult but airy and exposed.

Both summits, Rote Flüh and Schartschrofen, have normal hiking trails, too, so don´t expect to be alone. On fine summer and autumn days, many many people can be seen on top of Rote Flüh and Schartschrofen. The easy accessibility from Tannheim valley or from the mountain station of Füssener Jöchl cable car makes both summits a prime target for whole families.

In September 2012 I did the Tannheim triple jump: Gimpel (normal route), Rote Flüh and Friedberger Klettersteig to Schartschrofen. I was alone on Gimpel summit (!), had about 60 people on Rote Flüh (there is thank God enough space to even have some privacy) and met only four guys on Friedberger Weg. I was completely happy with the hike and only can recommend Friedberger Weg to those who love Via Ferratas and traverses.

Getting There

Best trailhead is Nesselwängle in the Tannheim valley or Musau in the Reutte region. The route from Musau is about 2 hours longer than the route from Nesselwängle.

Other trailheads in the Tannheimer valley are Haller, Haldensee and Grän. All trailheads have hiker parking areas with fees.

Rote Flüh as seen from Nesselwängle

Rote Flüh and Gimpel

View on Köllenspitze and Tannheimer Hütte

You reach Musau on road number 179 coming from Füssen / Germany or Reutte / Innsbruck, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Lechtal / Arlberg region. Leave the road at exit “Reutte Nord” and turn on road L69 to Musau.
At Bärenfalle Inn (signpost) there is a hiker parking area behind the parking area of the inn! Just follow the dirt road some 300 m into the woods to the road barrier.
At Musau look for the railway station and park your car where it is possible.

You reach Nesselwängle from Reutte or Arlberg region on road number 198. Turn on road number 199 at Weißenbach and pass by Gaichtpass. Follow the bypass road around Nesselwängle until you reach the Gimpelhaus parking area northwest of Nesselwängle (day and multiple day fees). There are no public parking possibilities in the village of Nesselwängle!
If you follow road 199 you reach Haller, Haldensee and, by taking road number L261 at Haldensee, Grän.

You reach Nesselwängle from Germany / Allgäu region by using highway A 7 to exit Oy and road number 399 to Pfronten. Take Achtalstraße and – after the border – L261 to Grän and Haldensee. At Haldensee take road number 199 to Haller and Nesselwängle / Gimpelhaus parking area.

Route Description

Route Overview

The Rote Flüh page shows you how to reach this summit as a starting point.

I recommend to start at Rote Flüh: ascending the Friedberger Klettersteig is more enjoyable than descending it.

Ascent to Rote Flüh

Overlook of Friedberger Klettersteig

From Rote Flüh summit follow the signposts and the trail in northwestern direction. The trail zigzags steeply down over some rocks which need a bit of scrambling and partly are secured with an iron rope. A first rock tower on the ridge is bypassed on its left side and the trail ends at a rock face which leeds down into a huge crack or gully. Some small iron cramps are leading down, the lower part being perpendicular. This is the most airy and exposed part of the route between Rote Flüh and Gelbe Scharte. After that the trail leads back onto the ridge.

First part, Rote Flüh summit

First part crux

Ridge of first part and Schartschrofen

Stay on the ridge for a while, the route again is partly secured with iron ropes and leads down on the right side of the ridge until a level part of the trail reaches the second huge rock tower of the ridge. Again the trail bypasses this tower on its left side, still descending with a bit of rock scrambling. Where the trail leads back to the ridge crest there is a last short descent to Gelbe Scharte.

At Gelbe Scharte you can bail out, descending to the east side into the uppermost Raintal below the east face of Schartschrofen. At a trail junction below Schartschrofen take the left hand trail which ascends to Hallergehrenscharte, the col between Schartschrofen and Tagweidspitze. From there Schartschrofen summit can be reached on the summit hiking trail.

Ridge tower

Via ferrata part

Via ferrata part - first chute

At Gelbe Scharte the Friedberger Klettersteig starts with a near perpendicular rock nose which has to be climbed directly – a sort of test wether you can master the following terrain. Friedberger Klettersteig is completely secured with good iron ropes and has no other securing equipment. The rock is firm with many grips and holds and the only thing you have to do is to climb, to enjoy and to secure yourself with your via ferrata kit and a helmet.

After the first test and a short steep section the route traverses to the left into a steep but easy chute. Pay attention for some loose scree. At the upper end of the chute the route traverses again to the left. You then have to overcome some steep rock faces to another left hand traverse and another steep section leding to the – to my opinion – most difficult part of the route (B / C): a short, about 4 m high overhang which needs some acrobatic moves. Another right hand traverse leads up to a steep arete which has to be climbed directly (airy!) up to a small notch (still very airy). Climb over that small notch, traverse to the left and you arrive at the steep summit chute which leads you up to the summit.

Via ferrata part

Via ferrata part

Via ferrata part - summit chute

A very nice but ways too short Via Ferrata – unfortunately Schartschrofen is only 180 m higher than Gelbe Scharte.